Lock



Oct. 20, 1931. c. RALLS 1,828,544 I LOOK Original Filed April 26, 1928 T i hum.

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Patented Oct. 20, 1931 f qmasmmms or SHEFFIELD, nNG Ann 1 LOCK This invention relates to looks of the kind employing a series of adjacent sliding lever plates held friction tight and adapted to be operated about a common pivot by a key, each plate having an aperture for accommodating the key and nibs on the key being arranged to act one on each plate at the sides of the aperture so as to move adjacent plates in opposite directions, and each plate having a slot for the engagement and disengagement of a locking stump or tongue carried by a slidable member also operable by a nib on the key.

The object of this invention is to provide an improved lock of this kind.

- A lock made according to this invention comprises a casing, a plurality oflever plates pivotally mounted in the casing and movable adj acently in opposite directions about their common pivot under the action of a key, a slidable member positioned adjacent one of the plates and provided with a stump or tongue, slots in the plates adapted to coincide on one position of the plates so as to permit engagement by the stump or tongue, and to be out of coincidence on any other position of the plates, twin bolts pivoted to the lock casing and operable so as to close on to and open away from one another across a staple receiving opening in the lock casing, means on the slidable member for operating the pivoted twin bolts on movement of the slidable member, a key receiving aperture in each plate and the slidable member, means on the casing for positioning a key, the plates and the slidable member being operable by nibs on the key acting on the sides of the apertures, the arrangement being such that adjacent plates move radially in opposite directions and the sliding member moves longitudinally with respect to the lock casing.

The invention will be better understood on e lock made in accordance withthis invention and showing the twin locking bolts open.

Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the twin bolts closed.

Fig. 3 is a detail view showing the slidable member.

Flg. 4 is an end View of same.

through Fig. 2a

1 Figs. 6,*7' and 8 show forms of keys for operating the type of lock made accordingto this invention.-

Fig. 9 is an elevation ed to be'spring pressed within the lock casing.

I ais the casing of the lock, 7), b are the lever, plates pivotally mounted about a common pivot 0 and having slots (Z r'or the engagement" and disengagement of the tongue or stump e oia slidablemember r This slidable memher is positioned by the pivot-pin 0 engaging aslot g at one endof the said member. Pivotally-mounted to pivots g on the lock casing beyond. the outer end of thelever plates 'bare two opposing bolt members h, h which are each'provided with a lockingor bolting stem" 7' and rearwardly disposed lugs 7",said meml.

bers hbeing operatedby pegs icon the slid.- ab'le member f so as to-close against or open away from each other across astaple receiv ing openingri. The position of the pegs 7c is such that after theyhave moved upward and closed the opposing bolt members k on The key is'provided with a numberof nibs 0 according to the number of lever plates?) employed, .one nib being providedfor each plate and adapted to operate against the sides ofits apertures '77 and an additional nib q for" moving the'slidable member f sothat the $0.1m; n reat Britain m y 26 ,"1927y1tenewed Fig.5 is vertical section taken centrally of a lever plate adapt- I tongue 6 thereon is made to engage ordisenthe slot-s cl. For closing the lock the key first "operates theslidable member 7 so that the tongue e th ereon is withdrawn from theslots d, the pegs 7c meanwhile operating thetwin bolts it so as to closethem against each other across the staplereceiving opening 2' and subsequently a ssuming their position between'the rear of the twin bolts h and the sideot the lock'casingo as shown in Fig.

2, thus wedging said bolts against opening movement. As the tongue e leaves the slots nibs 0 may be utilized, said lever plates may" be spaced apart by a washer or spacin member 8 located between each adjacent p ate so that a large enough space intervenes between each plate for the passage of thick nibs o and a very convenient washer to employ is one formed of a single member bent upon itself to lie astride the pivoted end of a plate I) so as to constitute two spacing members s as seen in Fig. 5. Alternatively the plates 1) may be formed thicker at their ends than at their middle to create the space for the key nibs and said ends thereby having surface union contact.

\Vhere a minimum of three plates 6 are employed the surface union principle of one unit frictionally contacting between two units is effected and no springs need be employed to act on the plates 6 but where only one or only two plates 6 are employed for economicalreasons it is preferable to provide for the said plate or plates to be spring pressed and this is eifected by providing a spring t which is secured in a slit oat the pivoted end of the plate 6 and which spring is constrained by bearing against the side of the lock casing a. The springs t of adja-' cent plates 6 are arranged at alternate sides of the plates and the plates are thereby normally held in opposite relation so that their slots (Z are out of coincidence.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is A lock of the kind specified comprising a- "l casing, a plurality of lever plates mounted about a pivot pin fixed to the casing, said lever plates having opposing contact faces approximately centrally of their structure for engagement by an extraneous key, said lever plates being movable radially thereby adjacently in-opposite directions both inwardly and outwardly of one another, a member lon itudinally slidable over the pivot pin and%aetween one of said lever plates and a face of the lock casing, interengaging means 

